1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
the army post's stern commander always had the utmost respect of those who served under him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
a stern receptionist took our names without even looking up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stern
Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Readers also learn how Aunt Lydia came to be a stern Gilead watchdog, rounded up from her past career as a judge and given an ultimatum.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Helen Wright, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
The stern was the targeted for major artifact recoveries from 1998 to 2002, including the removal of the engine, propeller, and turret for preservation at The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stern
Adjective
Now, she is primed to play a vital role as the USWNT faces a stern test on the journey to qualification for the 2027 World Cup finals.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Readers also learn how Aunt Lydia came to be a stern Gilead watchdog, rounded up from her past career as a judge and given an ultimatum.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
This gave me time to enjoy the adult-only areas of the ship, which includes a stunning pool deck with uninterrupted sea views from the stern.
—Helen Wright, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
The stern was the targeted for major artifact recoveries from 1998 to 2002, including the removal of the engine, propeller, and turret for preservation at The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stern
Adjective
-
The government, which is mediating the negotiations, has already imposed a strict security bubble ready for the arrival of Vice President JD Vance and the Iranian delegation.—
Will Clark,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Donation is only considered after every life-saving effort has been exhausted and death has been declared according to strict medical and ethical standards.—
Dr. Hiroshi Sogawa,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Leslie and her gruff-but-caring, staunch Libertarian boss Ron Swanson (the incomparable Nick Offerman) became symbols of bygone bipartisanship, not to mention endless memes.—
Jennifer Armstrong,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
-
And Zendaya, as to be expected, really, is fantastic, slipping effortlessly under the skin of the gruff addict in recovery, trying to claw her way out of an increasingly deep hole.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Natalia Bryant beams at the Calvin Klein euphoria Elixirs launch experience in Los Angeles on April 21.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This reportedly includes beam-focusing superconducting magnets, cryogenics, protection systems, and an advanced superconducting link.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The idea is to use places, such as Antarctica and space, as real-world testbeds where technologies can be proven under genuinely harsh conditions, like extreme cold, isolation, limited logistics, and high system reliability requirements.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
-
And scientists that have been working on the data have been able to pinpoint that maybe that was the cause of a very harsh winter over Europe that happened in 2010.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Ganesh’s exit from the show was announced earlier this month, sparking a fierce wave of pushback from fans of the HBO show.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Apr. 2026
-
That sum would amount to more than 10 times what President Obama released to Iran under a 2015 nuclear deal, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, that was the subject of fierce Republican criticism in the decade since.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Advertisement The orthodox and authoritarian left in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has, in many ways, sabotaged and delayed the renewal of the Latin American left.—
Carlos Manuel Alvarez,
Time,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Snow’s life’s work has been sustaining a Hobbesian authoritarian government.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The seafarer who spoke to ABC News described a grim scene currently of ships drifting with little direction, and listening on the ship-to-ship communication systems called the VHF line -- accounts of crews growing desperate for basic provisions, and some begging to go home.—
Desiree Adib,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, a grim war of attrition continues along the roughly 800-mile front line that snakes along eastern and southern areas of Ukraine.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That's a tough ask given that this isn't the first time the network's credibility has come into question.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Another tough one, all having to do with writer friends and boundaries (or the lack thereof).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stern. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
